How to evaluate Napoleon

Some people say that in France, people don't need to find a special day to commemorate Napoleon, because Napoleon's shadow can be seen everywhere in the center of Paris: the street named after the famous battle he commanded, the Invalides where his body was buried, the military museum where his military uniforms and weapons were collected, and the Louvre where he hung portraits when he ascended the throne ... French people can always feel Napoleon's existence.

At noon on February 2, 65438+200 years ago, in Notre Dame de Paris, where countless French emperors made contributions, Napoleon wore a purple velvet dress inlaid with silver mink and held the sword used by Charles the Great when he ascended the throne 1000 years ago. He was crowned as gold and became an emperor determined to dominate Europe, not just a king who controlled France. This year, Napoleon was 35 years old.

Folk lively official low-key

In order to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Napoleon's accession to the throne, various commemorative exhibitions, seminars and new publications about Napoleon in France have emerged one after another. A number of beautifully bound and expensive commemorative picture books also flooded into the market around 65438+February, among which a picture book containing 40 paintings recording the details of the ceremony of accession to the throne cost as much as 12000 euros, or about 12000 yuan.

Different from the active cultural market, the French government has shown a low profile different from the surrounding atmosphere. When people flocked to visit large and small cultural exhibitions held by the people, the French government did not hold any official celebrations. Even in the French media, there is an atmosphere of doubt and criticism about this legendary figure.

The huge oil painting hanging on the wall of the Louvre, 6 meters high and nearly 10 meters wide, helps people imagine the luxurious scene and majestic atmosphere when Napoleon ascended the throne. This oil painting was authorized by the famous painter Edgeworth Beresford David at that time, and it took four years from conception to completion. Napoleon, with his back to the Pope and a crown on his head, crowned his wife Josephine, who knelt before him. The people in the background on both sides are famous guests and ambassadors invited by Napoleon from all over Europe.

European academic circles, media and rulers have different interpretations of this indelible picture in French history.

France's Focus magazine compared Napoleon, who held the enthronement ceremony, with the dictator in Central Africa, and thought the luxurious ceremony was a kind of "boring behavior". Because it reminds people of the painful price paid by young French soldiers following this war hero around-400,000 French soldiers crossed the Russian border, and only18,000 people survived; There are 300,000 French troops who have fallen on the Spanish battlefield; In Leipzig, Germany, in just three days of "people's war" (with the anti-French alliance), 70,000 French soldiers were killed.

German historian Fulkhurich believes that "Napoleon was a dictator who had no confidence in the legitimacy of his rule. All his political achievements are based on his military ability. Without those wars, he could not have achieved those military achievements. "

"The current French government politically represents the thoughts of the * * * faction during the French Revolution. They believe that Napoleon's restoration of the monarchy and the establishment of a dictatorship are a betrayal of the spirit of freedom and equality in the revolution and a compromise with the European church in order to satisfy his political ambitions. " Professor Gao Yi from the Department of History of Peking University said, "Based on this view, it is natural for the French government to keep a low profile in this commemorative event."

Civil Code: An Eternal Monument

"For a long time, Napoleon has been suffering from jealousy and bad words from colleges, media and politicians. People must treat him as fairly as other historical figures. " Terry Lentz, president of the Napoleon Foundation in Paris, said.

Che Varyl, director of Malmeisson Palace (Napoleon's former private residence) near Paris, agrees. He said, "People often only regard Napoleon as a hero or dictator on the battlefield. As for his contribution to the French Civil Code, the National Bank and school education, few people mentioned it. "

March 2 1 This year is also the 200th anniversary of the official promulgation of the Napoleonic Code. /kloc-this code was compiled in 0/800 under the impetus of Napoleon, including civil law, civil procedure law, commercial law, criminal law and criminal procedure law. The thought of freedom, equality and natural rationality of the Great Revolution was laid in a detailed and understandable form, which laid the foundation for the legal system of modern civil society.

The promulgation of this code not only solved the confusion of French legal system at that time, but also deeply influenced the legal systems of other European countries with the expansion of Napoleon's power. Even in Canada, Egypt, Bolivia and other countries outside Europe, the Napoleonic Code has been used as a blueprint for their own legislative reform.

This 436-page code has gone through two emperors, three empires and four republics, and more than half of the legal provisions are still valid.

"All the victories on the battlefield vanished with the defeat of Waterloo, but people will never forget my Civil Code." Napoleon told the author of the memoirs of St. Helena during his imprisonment on St. Helena.

Father of Europe?

According to a survey just conducted by French magazine le figaro, in the eyes of 39% of the French interviewed, Napoleon, who led an expedition to Russia and Egypt, was a "dictator" and thought that "everything he did was to satisfy his desire for power". Another 49% thought Napoleon was a "great politician".

"Among the 39% critics, most of them should be people with higher education. For most common people, Napoleon is still a perfect national hero. On the contrary, there are many people with critical opinions in academia. " Professor Gao Yi explained, "The debate on Napoleon's evaluation has always existed, but it is only a problem that different opinions prevail in different periods."

After the defeat of the Battle of Sedang (the decisive battle in the Franco-Prussian War), the Second Empire of Charles Louis Napolé on Bonaparte was shattered. However, with the outbreak of World War I, Napoleon once again became a myth as a warrior who defeated Prussia. "It was not until the 1960s that people realized that Napoleon was politically wrong." Berthart Chevalier, who studied Napoleon for many years and now manages Napoleon's private residence, said.

"The debate mainly happened in academic circles. In fact, there is no reason to influence the French to regard Napoleon as a hero of their own nation. " Professor Gao Yi added.

In any case, Napoleon, as a strategist and politician full of magic all his life, still has a large number of admirers. Since he died in a prison in St. Helena on 1822, more than 80,000 books have been published about him. More than 200 directors around the world have made films based on this legend from Corsica. Even in the library in Kathmandu, people can see Napoleon's head on the closet.

"There is no greater man in the world than him." Former British Prime Minister Churchill once commented on Napoleon.

According to a poll, Napoleon is still regarded by the French as one of the most important figures in French history except Charlemagne and Charles de Gaulle.

"With his sword and code, Napoleon became the pioneer of modern Europe." French historian Jean Tourard recently emphasized in a speech that "Napoleon was the father of Europe".

The emperor ascended the throne.

1804 65438+In the early morning of February 2, a cold wind wrapped in snowflakes crossed the streets of Paris. The guests attending Napoleon's enthronement ceremony began to leave home for Notre Dame de Paris at 6 am. The staff of Notre Dame University are still making final preparations nervously to ensure that every detail is foolproof. In fact, since five months ago, they have been busy with this matter. Every step and detail of the enthronement ceremony were carefully designed by a senior diplomat who knows etiquette-a descendant of the old dynasty.

Although the weather is cold, the whole city of Paris is still deserted. Almost all the 500,000 citizens gathered on both sides of the road from the Dolores Palace (Napoleon's bedroom) to Notre Dame de Paris, and even the balconies and windows along the street were rented out to crazy citizens at high prices. The onlookers seemed quiet, and people were more curious than excited about the upcoming ceremony.

Compromise with the pope

At 9 o'clock in the morning, Pope pope pius vii set out from the Tuileries Palace where he stayed on time. His carriage was escorted by French cavalry, and it was customary for the Pope's envoy to lead the guard of honor-but this time the envoy rode a donkey. This deliberate arrangement has caused ridicule and ridicule from the citizens of both sides.

Napoleon never liked the Vatican, but in order to make his rule stable with the support of the church, he chose to accept the coronation of the Pope like Charlemagne, who once established the European empire, but he would not go to the Vatican in person, but hoped that the Pope would come to Paris in person.

As early as August, the Pope received an invitation from Napoleon. He didn't want to promise the French "unreasonable demands", but similar to Napoleon's invitation, the Pope considered that compromise might improve the declining situation of churches affected by the revolutionary wave in Europe, and perhaps he could take the opportunity to get back the fief occupied by the French army. He finally agreed to go to Paris at the beginning of 165438+ 10. Therefore, the emperor's accession ceremony had to be postponed from Napoleon's favorite165438+1October 9 (the anniversary of the foggy moon revolution) to 65438+February 2.

165438+1On October 25th, Napoleon greeted the Pope in Fontainebleau, a suburb of Paris. After hugging each other, Napoleon's carriage suddenly began to move forward. He jumped into the carriage from one side and invited the Pope to come up-it was clearly arranged from the beginning.

65438+ 12 At noon on February 2, several rays of warm sunshine penetrated the pale and cold sky in Paris. Napoleon and Josephine's splendid carriage has just slowly sailed to Notre Dame, and Pope pope pius vii has been waiting in the cold palace for nearly two hours.

Notre Dame de Paris, a palace that witnessed the coronation ceremonies of French kings since 1 179, is just one of the venues chosen for the ceremony. Another option is the training ground in Paris, where many revolutionary celebrations were held, but Napoleon refused. Fulk Uhrich, a German historian, believes that this "upstart" decided to hold a ceremony in Notre Dame because he was worried that he would be laughed at by the people if he appeared here in exquisite clothes. The advantage here is that it can not only provide services for those dignitaries who attend the ceremony, but also effectively distance themselves from the onlookers. For this ceremony, the street near Notre Dame de Paris was resurfaced with stones, and the whole house on the roadside was demolished to make room for the honor guard that day.

imperial/royal crown

Napoleon put on a heavy robe at the gate of the palace, and Josephine dragged her long skirt into Notre Dame.

Almost all historians describe this grand ceremony as an elaborate "stage play". A few weeks before the ceremony, Napoleon and his wife Josephine had been familiar with every detail of the ceremony, including dolls and models.

In the empty hall, 19 1 distinguished guests from all over Europe were dressed in fine clothes, and they were specially invited to attend the enthronement ceremony. This is also to show them Napoleon's imperial majesty.

Two years ago, Napoleon brought musicians from Italy to compose music for coronation mass, honor guard performance and ceremony, and played two bands composed of four choirs and 300 players respectively.

The court painter who designed this dress is said to have been inspired by people's clothing in the Renaissance, and designed tight pants, Spanish vests and velvet hats for Napoleon. The crown placed on the Eucharist is made of gold, which is an imitation of the ancient Roman crown.

Napoleon, who was sitting on the Eucharist table waiting for his coronation, wore a purple velvet dress inlaid with silver mink, holding a sword said to have been used by Charlemagne when he ascended the throne, and a scepter in his hand. According to Napoleon's plan, these decorations should make it look more powerful. But according to the historian Roman Lake, "at this time, his face showed a rare lack of self-confidence and rigidity, which seemed to be overwhelmed by his majesty."

After the mass, the Pope anointed Napoleon and his wife's heads and palms and blessed their crowns. At the time of coronation, the latest theory in historians is that Napoleon personally took the crown from the Eucharist and put it on himself. This was agreed by the Pope in advance. /kloc-another French historian in the 0/9th century said that Napoleon took the crown from the Pope and put it on his head. The latter statement seems to be more widespread because it is full of drama.

The whole coronation ceremony lasted four hours. Under the heavy dress, Napoleon himself showed a sleepy expression from time to time and yawned uncontrollably several times. Almost all the guests present later complained that the coronation ceremony was too long and Notre Dame was too cold.

10 years later, the European anti-French alliance invaded Paris and Napoleon was forced to abdicate. 18 15, Napoleon, who returned to Paris, finally defeated Waterloo. After the "Hundred Days Dynasty" ended and the Bourbon Dynasty was restored, Napoleon was exiled to the isolated island of St. Helena in the Atlantic Ocean, but he survived.

Napoleon's life

● 1769 19 was born in Corsica on August 5th.

● 1793 Napoleon became a supporter of jacobins, the revolutionary party led by robespierre during the French Revolution.

1795, Napoleon led his troops to quell the aristocratic riots in Paris, and then he was promoted to commander of the army.

● 1796 married josephine, defeated the austrians in the Italian campaign, and expanded the territory of France to the southwest.

● 1799, European countries organized an anti-French alliance for the second time, and France gradually lost power.

1804 Napoleon became emperor of France by referendum.

● 1805, Napoleon defeated the Russian and Austrian troops in Austerlitz.

● 1806 Austria and Prussia refused to join the Rhine Alliance under Napoleon's protection, and the French army invaded Berlin.

● 1808 The French army occupied Spain and the king was forced to abdicate.

● 1809 Austria was defeated in Vagram and forced to cede a large territory.

1810 Napoleon divorced josephine, who was infertile, less than a year later, and married Maria Luise, the princess of the Austrian augsburg dynasty.

● 18 12 Napoleon arrived in Moscow with a large number of troops, but he was forced to retreat in a difficult natural environment. After a long journey, the French army was almost wiped out.

● 18 13 Prussia, Russia, Great Britain, Austria and Sweden formed an alliance and confronted the French army in Leipzig. In this war known as the people's movement, the French army lost.

● 18 14 Allied forces invaded Paris and Napoleon abdicated.

1815 Napoleon returned to Paris with 700 soldiers and established the Hundred Days Dynasty. Finally, he was defeated by Waterloo and exiled to the isolated island of St. Helena in the Atlantic Ocean.

●1On May 5, 822, Napoleon died in St. Helena.

● Napoleon's body was transported back to Paris on 1840 and buried in Invalides.